By Raymond Bill
With so many dining options in Palm Springs, one of the best kept secrets is dish- Creative Cuisine, not only because they have a cuisine and dining style that is unique to the valley, but also because of the history that is rooted in their new location in the uptown design district which is gaining so much recent attention. Formerly located in a small strip mall in Cathedral City, dish-Creative Cuisine built a reputation for providing fine dining cuisine, masterfully plated and accompanied by many small amuse bouche tastings that turned every dining experience into a multi-course event that aroused all senses. Now located in the old Don the Beachcomber building at N. Palm Canyon at Tachevah, dish has stepped it up several notches!
While one can still expect an unparalleled dining experience, complete with many creative small bites between courses, dish-Creative Cuisine now features a full bar with hand-crafted signature cocktails, created by Chef/Owner, Joane Garcia-Colson. With a full bar comes great happy hour specials enjoyed Tuesday through Saturday from 4pm to 7pm, including nightly specials that make this hot spot a locals’ favorite:
Tuesday- “Two for One Burger Night” where guests enjoy two burgers made from premium ground beef tenderloin, with a bacon jam, caramelized onions, savory bearnaise sauce, lettuce and tomato, served with hand cut pomme frites, housemade chipotle ketchup and a sriracha aioli.
Wednesday- $2 TACOS!!! With your choice of chicken, pulled pork, fresh fish, or smoked hominy and mushroom, you cannot go wrong on Wednesdays at dish! The price is right and the tacos are incredible!
Thursday- “Chef’s Choice,” whether it’s an Artisan Flatbread with a cold draft beer or fried chicken, chef will always have something special for the crowd.
Friday- “Choose Your Fish/ Choose Your Sauce”. Dish offers fresh, wild caught sustainable fish selections nightly, and on Friday, in the bar, you can choose from a few selections delivered fresh that day!
Saturday- “Oyster Night”. Fresh Fanny Bay oysters with fresh granita, shucked to order. It doesn’t get any better than this!
Now dish still offers the finest seafood and local, organic ingredients in the dining room and there are always nightly specials, which is why dish has become a destination restaurant. Parties of 8 to 12 are encouraged to take advantage of the Chef’s Table, when available, where they are invited to dine in a private room adjacent to the kitchen with a window for viewing all the action throughout their meal. Dinner and a show! With entrees like, Coq Au Vin, and Seared Diver Scallops in a grapefruit shallot reduction, dish-Creative Cuisine is in a league of their own.
Rumors have revolved around this new location as it was once the famed, “Don the Beachcomber” restaurant, which catered to many celebrities, but the history of the building goes even further. Many have spoken of secret tunnels that lead from the restaurant to what is now known as Desert Regional Medical Center. Back in the 1920’s, however, this local hospital was better known as the El Mirador Hotel, and it had a long history in Palm Springs. During WWII, the hotel was used as a military hospital and a portion of the building remained as a hospital while the majority was transformed back into an extravagant hotel. The tunnels were believed to be connected to prohibition era liquor runs, gambling escapes or just easy routes for celebrities to make a quick getaway. Whatever their purpose may have been, the tunnels do exist, though blocked off to the public. This piece of Palm Springs history lives on in dish-Creative Cuisine.
Because dish-Creative Cuisine offers two separate dining experiences under one roof, you can come to dish for any occasion! Celebrating a special event or a romantic dinner for two? The dining room menu, coupled with exquisite service will leave you with lifelong memories of a mouth-watering, multi-course meal. Looking for something casual to catch up with friends? The bar is the perfect venue to enjoy great food at reasonable prices in a casual setting. Dish is now open for lunch Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 2:30pm, and offers brunch on Sunday from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Dinner is offered from 5pm to close Tuesday through Saturday with reservations recommended. The bar is open from 4pm to close with no reservations needed. Visit online at www.dishcreativecuisine.com and visit the app store on your mobile device to download their mobile app, which will allow you to receive notifications of specials and upcoming events. Dish is located at 1107 N Palm canyon Drive where Tachevah meets Palm Canyon in the Uptown Design District! Now is the best time to see what’s new at dish! Call today to make your reservation, 760-322-7171
